Take Heart: Daily Devotions to Deepen Your Faith by David Powlison

About the Book:

It’s easy to lose heart in a world where many things can and do go wrong. Life is difficult, and there are struggles within and without, but we can take heart—the Lord is with us. He hears our cries for mercy. He knows our every need. He guides us, helps us, and strengthens us with his mighty right arm. Journey through a year with David Powlison, learning to “take heart” by meditating on his favorite Scripture passages, hymns, and biblical themes, exploring the ways God meets us with daily grace right where we live.

Drawn from David Powlison’s many decades of writing, teaching, and speaking, Take Heart is a yearlong devotional journey into the process of biblical change, where truth becomes clearer and our ears hear and our eyes see what God tells us about himself.

Learn to go to God for the help you need and hold fast to the daily mercy and grace he offers. And be reminded the promises of God are true and that the resurrection of Jesus guarantees that no matter what you may be facing, you can live in real hope. 

My Review:

This is a daily devotion for Christians who are serious about growing in their faith. The collection from Powlison's writings contains a good balance of biblical encouragement and exhortation. Readers will be both comforted in times of difficulty and admonished to grow through them. I was happy to see the readings have practical applications. An example is January 26 where Powlison gives specific Bible passages to read as relevant to particular issues. Has someone been mean to you? Read Psalm 10.

While many of the devotions are designed to help in time of need, some contain great teaching on growth. Regarding 1 Timothy 1:5, “A 'good conscience' means you are learning to evaluate all things as they truly are. You are reorienting to God's own evaluation of himself and you, other people and circumstances, right and wrong, true and false, worthy and worthless.” (January 22) That shed new light on the meaning of the passage and required some time to think about what it really means to have a good conscience.

The book is a great collection of devotions for Christians who really want to grow in their faith. You will be comforted but you will also be challenged. Powlison had a good understanding of the condition of humans and their need for God, reflected in these devotions.

My rating: 5/5 stars. 

About the Author:

David Powlison, MDiv, PhD,(1949–2019) was a teacher, counselor, and the executive director of the Christian Counseling & Educational Foundation (CCEF). He wrote many books and minibooks, including Speaking Truth in Love, Seeing with New Eyes, Good and Angry, Making All Things New, God's Grace in Your Suffering, Safe and Sound, and Take Heart. David was also the editor of The Journal of Biblical Counseling. 

New Growth Press, 416 pages.

I received a complimentary digital copy of this book from the publisher.. My comments are an independent and honest review.

(My star ratings: 5-I love it, 4-I like it, 3-It's OK, 2-I don't like it, 1-I hate it.)